The National tribune., 1887-04-07
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Replies % Questions on Variety OF Interesting
Suhlects.


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ton will be paid to communications that are not
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Our readers are requested to inelose a stamp for
reply to their inquiries. Postal cards will be
replied TO by mail only Replies by mail will ord-
narily be made within n week. AID if in this col
umn within three weeks.l
"Inguirer," Bre,rster Neb-If q soldier takes a
homestead and relinquishes IL to the Government,
does 1t act as bar to his taking another? ARsUer
J. z. T., Beech Creek PA soldier draws 81 a
month for wound received in Mexican war; and 81
for wound received in war Of 1851 Is he now enti-
tied to IS s month for service in Mexican war, in
addition to the "a lie receives for wound in late war?
Ansrrer. No; he is now drawing 81. and that is all
that Is provided by the Mexican Pension Bill.
f. H., Clinton, Conn--I enlisted In the United
States service as musician in regimental band. to
serve for three years during the war; was dis
charged Sept. 25 l562 by order that all regimenta
bands should be discharged. i served l3 months,
and received only $50 State bounty. Am not en-
titled To SlOo bounty, promised by the Government?
Anstcer. Depends upon when you enlisted III
prior to July 81 1861, yes; il subsequent thereto
e. r., East Bg6aio, ~ I'll applied for pension
| and was examined by Medical Board, who report
cd that was not sufficiently disabled to draw PEN
sion. have now been examined by two physi-
@ IL oi b 0osss nSep S ,b
ing Board; IL so. and the arrears act should be
| pealed, should be entitled to arrears? Answer.
1t is quite likely that IL the disability Is found to
exist you will be rated notwithstanding the former
adverse report and in case OF repeal OF the limi-
tation OF arrears you would draw arrears on your
claim. OF course we cannot speak positively as to
whether you will will not be allowed pension,
because We know nothing of the merits of your
| claim.
j. B. L., Loogootes, Iad.-Does the Government
pay freight and other expenses soldiers head
/ stone to the nearest station where soldier is bu-
| ried? AHStCer. The headstones furnished by the
| Government are delivered, freight paid, at the
railroad station nearest place of burial but any
expense thereafter such removal from station to
place of interment, and erection thereof, must be
| borne by the applicant.
O. s., Akron, O-Drafted men for three years were
on the same footing regards the 500 bounty pro-
| vided by the act of July %, 1861 as vounteersi
that Is they served tUo years were discharged
by reason of wounds, or by reason of the close Of
o. @. C., LoudOnrilte O.-The act of July %. 1851
provided that a soldier must serve two years
| enlisted man, otherwise he is not entitled to any
bounty. When you enlisted you received SIS adj
vance bounty, and when discharged to accept com
mission you received the balance OF bounty due
/ you. The Adjutant-Gene having mustered you
less than two years, the sl00 must be deducted un
| der the law You cannot retain bounty for less
than two years service as an enlisted man.
| A. W. C., TiPpecdHoe, O.-The total number OF
| enstments in the United States army were $50,
! l32. The number of enstments In the Confeder-
ate army - unknown.
| g. s., Ashland Kan-l A man is drawing 81 per
/ month pension; he also in the Mexican War
j. he entitled to pension for the latter services?
2. What rate Of pension is allowed for two-thirds
disability? Anstrer. l. He is entitled to the diff
\ ference between 81 and IS. He can draw no more
| than S. because he would have to surrender his
pension under the late war, and take the sS pen
| sion for his service in the Mexican war. 2. Two
/ thirds disability for enlisted man would be So.
s. r. f.. BeLtrooi, Pa.-Is drafted man. enrolled
Aug. % ls63 to serve three years, and discharged
June 70, 1865 by reason of General Orders, No. a.
War Department entitled to any bounty AnstCer
Ihat depends upon whether ne received any
bounty. II his record was clear he was entitled to
/ SICO: no more.
| JB. ", MiIraukee, Hia-By what authority are
| officers discharged in the field by resignation
based on Surgeons certificate of disability allowed
Communication of travel at the rate of one days pay
and allowances for each 20 miles of travel from
place of discharge TO place of entering the service?
| AHScer IL was decision of the Second Controller
| OF the Treasury, made some years since.
g. X. O.. Cdnisiso N. IA soldier applie5f for PEN
/ sion and dies before its allowance, leaving de-
pendent father. who applies for pension, which is
allowed Can said father complete his sons claim?
ARStrer. MOI none but a widow or minor children
| can complete a soldiers claim.
| T. s. r. TOHits ". IA soldier pre-empts a
piece OF land and lives thereon two years; he then
/ files his homestead claim on the same land; ad-
ding his military service thereto, lie proves up the
/ homestead. Has he still a pre-emPtion right?
1nsieer. No; person who has once hied de-
| claratOry statement cannot file another. The fact
| OF his changing his pre- emption filing to home
| stead entry does not in any way change the fact
| that he has exhausted his right
J. H. d., Meadviiis, Pal was enrolled 18th Of
June, 1861. for two years, and was discharged in
! November. ls62, for promotion. Am Il entitled to
/ 500 bounty? AnSrer. No. Had you enlisted for
three years. you would have been entitled under
| the act of April %, 1872.
I.EP.. EImira, NJ Y-what was the rank and
| pay of n First Lieutenant who was detailed 8
/ United States Railroad Military Conductor? Would
1 he rank higher and receive more pay than n First
Lieutenant Ans,rer The fact of his being detailed
| as Conductor ON United States Military Railroad
would bring no higher rank, nor any increase OF
| pay.
army leaving a wife and children. She received
| no aid from him during the war. and has not heard
from or Of him since. l. Not having remarked, can
she draw pension for herself and children 2. IL
| So can you refer to the decisionf 3. In case of
| abandonment of wife and children by husband,
who soldier, IS the wife entitled to pension.
she caring and bringing up the children? AHsFeT.
l. Only in event OF her being able to prove the date
and cause of soldiers death. 2. There is no de-
cision that death can be presumed, except where
| the records of the War Department show the sol
dier missing in action. or captured and not heard
from since. 3. No.
CH b.. Fort Madison. IotOa-Is a widowed step
mother entitled to pension for stepson. who died
! or killed in service, she having been depend
ent upon him at time of his death? AhSWsr. No.
j. H. r., GaipestOr. Iad.-l. Has the Adjutsnt-
General acted upon the remuster of officers claims
filed la 1881? 2. What is the difference between
First Lieuienants and Captain pay IN the cavalry
service: 4rSger. l. Not ali of them. He is about
Is months behind in such claims. 2. sl66T.
j. e., Urbdna. OIL. What is meant by the naval
pension fund? 2. Are not the naval pensioners
paid out of the regular appropriations made by
Congress? 8 Explain sections 1851 To 4I66. Re.
vised Statutes. 4. What changes are there in the
general pension laws affecting army service since
| 1866? 5. What class of persons in the military
service of the United States not regularly mustered
| entitled To pension under existing Iawy In
strer. l. The naval pension fund aeerues from
penalties and forfeItures arising under the public
land system. also by moneys aceruing from the sale
! Of prizes captured during the late war. 2. No
they are paid of this naval fund 3. 1t tC
| Us that he sections explain themselves We nigh
| consume q page Of the paper without knowing
wherein they are not clear to- you, or what you dc
sire to ascertain. 4. There have been no changes
in the general pension laws, except an increase o.
rates for certain pensioners. Soldiers of the Regu
, | lar Army stand the same footing voluntee
soldiers. s. None; unless you mean Contract Sur
geons Provost Marsals and enrolling officers anC
, certain warrant officers of the navy.
g. ~, BROOKLYN, " I'll. A widow who Is draw
, ing pension dies. leaving three minor children
, said children are drawing pension in their Owl
right. Are they entitled to the mothers? =
Pension check Is received after the widow
death, said check being payable to her order; how
il it to be collected. and by whom? AnStgcT. 1.
they are drawing pension In their own right. the.
drawing their mothers pension. . The matte
Pensions The check cannot be used. but n new Gel
tifieae will have To be issued I'm which tine amoun
r of the check will be included in the accrued pen
Z sion due the children, and paid to them or thei
!, guardian.
RFH. Washington C. H.. O-what Is the high
est rate Of pension paid to private soldier for dis
ability equivalent to loss of hand footf ARsrsi
| Twenty-fou dollars per month.
Z l.. d., Silinan Valley. IH-No interest Is paid o
claims allowed by the Government.
T. y. L., Codissrie, Pd-Rates OF pension 70
i commissioned officers and enlisted men differ
i ent for instance, Captain draws SO for the sam
. degree of disability for which enlisted ma
pension, or $40 per month Your disability is nc
considered great as that Of the party who
| drawing Sl3, you would draw more than you DC
4 J. MeM, Carlisle bid-I fled claim for pension